An Apocalyptic's Prayer

[nomyek200]

Hmm, I really like this speech.

I'm making a song inspired by Godspeed You Black Emperors "The Dead Flag Blues". A kind of apocalyptic epic, hopefully around 10 minutes long, and I was hoping to get my hands on an apocalyptic inspired poem to be used as a sample in the song, and i was wondering if I could use this in that song? If thats ok with you.

[mmgje]

Interesting once again. Liked it. C u soon love Michelle :-) xx

[KalelPrime]

Once again sir very well done. You ever thought of trying to publish some of your stuff?

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hey Dave,

Thank you. I'm actually working on a collection of short stories at present that I hope to get published, but after the positive feedback that my poetry has recieved, I think I might try and get some of that into circulation too :)

Many thanks indeed for the encouragement.

George

[Android369]

George, i'm enjoying this and assume you can already imagine how much ]:-)

It is incredible how you use the words to give them spice. I like particularly the changing part in it...after the death card.

"no longer quite so eager, eh?" Especially Barker's pictures are miraculous 5*and fav

Would you mind if I'd feature this beautiful piece of agonizing art on my channel?

You made me curious about your unknown writings and i'll be looking forward for more.

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello Kai,

It's very gratifying indeed to know that you enjoyed this poem :) I had an inkling in the back of my mind that it might appeal. Please feel free to feature this video; I would be extremely honoured to have it on your channel :) I'm currently working very hard on getting my works of short fiction to a publishable state; I'll certainly let you know if I succeed :)

George

[RichardRoy2]

Beautifully done. I understand the sentiment. It hits like a flash of rage; an "attack" you might say. One would hope it goes just as quickly as it came. Fortunately not a frequent occurence. I think I'd have to address it, if I were visited by it more frequently, or for too long a duration. This work is probably a good way of addressing it. Thanks for sharing.

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello Richard,

I think the essential desire to see civilisation as a cage and to occassionally wish it shattered is something that exists in all of us and something that must be acknowledged and addressed rather than sublimated. Fortunately, mediums such as fiction, poetry, movies etc allow us to explore the inclination withbout any direct consequence. Similarly, I think that occassional knee jerk bursts of misanthropy are somewhat unavoidable with the constant stream of exaggerated human...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

...atrocity that media provides. Rather than indulged, I feel it is something that has to be absorbed and digested, no matter how difficult a meal it might to swallow.

George

[RichardRoy2]

1a. One of the things I find intriguing is how little we know about each other, and what resides beneath the surface. I think those who view the surface of others, and expect that the depths are the same, or similar, either haven't plumbed the depths of themselves, or their depths reside on the surface. Hmm. It "...is something that exists in all of us", and here you regard the disire to give civilization a quality that justifies the act of a "monster", Heath Ledger's my "hero" here. His...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello again Richard, I agree; one of the elements I find most fascinating (not to mention wonderful) about our species is our complexity and ambiguity; it is also one the many reasons why I tend to disagree with nihilistic or apocalyptic perspectives/philosophies. They tend to revolve around the preconception that humanity is iredeemable in some fundamental sense, focussing exclusively on the negative and destructive whilst simultaneously denying or turning a blind eye to the beauty...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

..., inspiration and humanity the species exhibits on a daily basis. That said, I understand the inclination towards apocalypse; I do think that, along with the abandonment of hope for our species/civilisation etc, there is also an aesthetic pre-occupation with destruction manifested and expressed in fiction such as The Dark Knight, Independence Day, etc etc. The Joker is eminently more fascinating and attractive (heroic, in a fashion) because he represents a particular taboo extremity of...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

post-modern "civilised" humanity. i.e. the often sub-conscious acknowledgement that civilisation and its various components are constructs that can be set aside, demolished, etc. In that reard, he represents the abandonment of consequence; an ultimate form of freedom that is at once attractive and repelent. That said, I think it imperative to point out that the Joker's appeal (and those of similar characters) functions exclusively in the arena of metaphor; i.e. as an idea that might be used...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

...as a vehicle for questioning and criticising certain socio-cultural/ideological norms, or even in a more "Tyler Durden-esque" fashion in the demolishment and re-building of one's sense of self. Were someone such as The Joker to exist in reality, they would certainly not be heroic in any fashion, owing simply to the fact that their actions would have direct and quantifiable consequence upon real lives. That is not to say that the perspectives or philosophies they represent are meaningless...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

...or lack significance for reality; rather that they function as all fiction does; as a distorted mirror of reality that might reflect certain aspects or facets thereof that we would otherwise not wish or lack the means to consider. Megatron is another prime example, and in many respects is more "heroic" than Prime could ever dream of being, owing to the fact that he represents the dissatisfied and disenfranchised of Cybertronian society. Whereas Prime (and Batman) wish for things to stay as...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

...they've always been, Megatron (and the Joker) wish to upset the status quo, challenge it and open it up to dissection. In that regard, they could be said to represent the evolution of society, culture and ideology in a manner that their more staid counterparts do not.

And now I'm rambling :)

Many thanks for the food for thought!

George

[RichardRoy2]

2a.  ...portrayal of "The Joker", and his "rational" for his actions seem to mirror your poem in a believable way. I get the impression you see Megatron in the same way.

[dewonthegrass]

Awesome, powerful... and that hissing alliteration! I'll have to listen to it more, once is not enough.

Kudos :)

R.

(btw, subscribed)

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello there Dewonthegrass,

Thank you for the kind words and for the subscription! I'll endeavour to keep you entertained :)

George

[dewonthegrass]

Is it alliteration or assonance? Or something different? I have forgotten.

R.

[LordCustos3]

Ladies and Gentlemen....the Spoken Word stylings of Pinhead the Cenobite!!!!!

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Poetry written in blood and bile; verses of torn flesh and sliced organ...actually, I think that would make a great poem with a little work :) thanks for the inspiration :)

George

[TorchwoodBelfast]

great work

[dendariiprime]

george, i am truly.... i can't even find the words!!!

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hey there Michael,

I'm extremely flattered by those few that you have found :) Thank you,

George

[vanhorso]

This is definitely my favourite yet of your tremendously emotive poems. As always a joy to hear the fruits of your creative outpourings, long may they continue, 5 Horse laden stars :)

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hola oh Horse with Hands, Horse with Hands!

Thank you, it's always nice to hear that people are enjoying my work, and doubly so from those whose work I enjoy so much in turn :)

George

[jonredhornet]

Nice. I love that you squeezed in a pic of Teddy H as well :)

[ExaggeratedElegy]

I always find Teddy particularly ironic; not only is a blatant hypocrite, but he is undoubtedly now condemned to the very Hell he professes belief in. That is assuming he actually believes anything he spews and isn't just trying to keep a hold over his cash cows.

George

[zizzlerizzle8707]

veyr nice poem, one of your best. i agree with Touya's assertion

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hey there Zizzler,

Thank you! It's funny, it's always the ones I'm not terribly certain of that people seem to enjoy the most :)

George

[berserk2112]

This is my favorite one so far. You paint the image in my mind without any hesitation.

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Thank you :) I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

George

[Tineafa]

Amazingly powerful, but I would prefer to see an apocalypse differently. In my apocalypse, everyone dies instantly and together and no memory, no thought is left standing. Life and acitivity, in a moment silenced to a mournful tranquility.

Darn it, now I'm doing it too.

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hey there Tineafa,

I always find it fascinating how different people imagine this sort of thing; I've always rather appreicated the imagery of mythological Apocalypses (Revelation is my favourite book of the bible) if only for their strangeness and the epic nature of their imagery. Realistically, of course, i am aware that such an event would be horrendous however it manifested. However, I do think that we all harbour a perverse desire to see something like it happen, if only for the shift...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

....in status quo it would represent. Fortunately for most of us, that appetite is sated through fiction, movies etc.

George

[Touya82TT]

I think sometimes a little apocalyptic action would be nice if only to break us out of the everyday humdrum and let us realise, hey we WERe working towards something big after all. it's why I like movies like Cloverfield and stuff like Year Zero.

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello Touya,

I think that fictional apocalypses do help to remind us to a certaind egree of that fact; they project what could be and what we stand to lose. However, I also think there's a perverse part of most "civilised" human beings that wants to see it all come crumbling down, if only for the profound change it would represent and the freedom from restrictions of law, obligations of work, taxes etc that it would provide. and Cloverfield rocks :)

George

[VincentWomack]

nice one.

you should get yourself a mic to record those. the motor of the camera is sometimes a bit distracting. - Vince

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello Vincent,

Is that what that is? In that case, I think a microphone would be a very worthwhile purchase indeed. Many thanks!

George

[Vogter2100]

AWESOME!

Wou...

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hey Tomas,

Thank you!

George

[nelliediddle]

I must admit that your accent somehow seems to accentuate the poem!

Good work George!

[ExaggeratedElegy]

Hello Nellie,

Thank you very much indeed. I like reading poems when i can wrap my tongue around the words and savour them a little :)

George

[Eopyk]

That was a scary prayer :P

All love from me Jasmine

[XChillX42]

I think the term prayer was used to create irony.

[Eopyk]

Yes I am fully aware of that .

All love from me Jasmine

[ExaggeratedElegy]

:)

Always happy to know that my work gave someone the shivers.

George